Clothespin



F. SANTORA CLOTHESPIN Oct. l0, 1944.

Filed Dec. 23, 1943 lNvENToR Frgnk Santara Patented Oct. 10, 1944 PATENT OFFICE u cLo'rnEsPIN Frank Santora, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor of one- Ahall to Edward A. Swenson, Brooklyn, N. Y.

u Application December 23, 1943, Serial No. 515,332

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in clothespins and more specifically to clothespins which are made of plastic material, of wood or of a similar substance that has a certain degree of elasticity. The objects of my improvement are as follows:

Firstthe provision of a clothespin of the character described which grips the clothes line firmly and which will not wriggle olf if a strong wind is blowing.

Second, the provision of a clothespin which, if made of plastic material or the like, can be cleaned with soap and water Without being affected by the humidity or by acids or other chemical ingredients which may be in the soapwater.

Third, the provision of a clothespin which can be manufactured in attractive assorted colors so that each family living in a large apartment house can .distinguish their clothespins from differently colored clothespins of other families; the material of various sets of clothespins itself being of different colors in order to prevent the colthespins from losing their color.

Fourth, thelprovision of a clothespin which is easier to place on a clothesline than ordinary clothespins; u

Fifth,the provision of a clothespin which consists only of Yone single piece of material and which can be made substantially in one working process, but which is durable and well adapted to withstand the rough usage to which such devices are usually subjected.

Sixth, the" provision of a clothespin of the character' described which is lighter in weight and smaller in size but which will grip firmly and with less pressure than clothespins which have been used hitherto;

Seventh, the provision of a clothespin of the character described which will not collect dust or germs and which will not leave dust marks --on the clothes; and

Eightluthe provision of a clothespin of the character described, the surface of which will not become rough and brittle by extensive use so that the danger of injuries from splinters or the like is eliminated.

Further objects of the instant invention reside in any novel feature of construction or operation or novel combination of parts present in the embodiment of the invention described and shown in the accompanying drawing whether within or without the scope of the appended claims and irrespective of other specific statements as to the scope of the invention contained herein.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a`preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5 5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a front elevation of a modification of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of another modification of the invention.

Similar numerals refer to throughout the several views.

The various modifications have the generic characteristic that a tubular body is provided on its upper portion with recesses forming a nonslip grip and that the lower portion of said tubular body is provided with four longitudinal slots in such a manner that it forms four gripping fingers adapted to receive the clothes line and clothes and to grip the same firmly at four points.

Referring rst to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the numeral 1 denotes a tubular body of resilient material having a smooth surface, such as preferably plastic material or bamboo (particularly Bambusa arndinacea) or hardwood or any other suitable material which cannot be affected by humidity or chemical ingredients that may be in soapwater and which can be made in various colors or can be colored in such a manner that it will not lose its color by the influence of humidity, cooking, soapwater and extensive usage. The upper portion of the tubular body I is provided with recesses 2 which are substantially at right angles to the axis of the tubular body I. The lower portion of the tubular body I is provided with two narrow longitudinal slots 3 which are radially extended through the wall of the tubular body I along the cross-section center line as may be seen in Figs. 2 and 4. The lower portion of the tubular body I is also provided with two Wide, longitudinal slots 4, which preferably are disposed at ninety degrees relative to the narrow slots 3. The slots 3 and 4 divide the lower portion of the tubular body I into four gripping lingers 5, 6, I and 8 which extend from the upper portion of the tubular body I and which are adapted to grip a clothes line and clothes, inserted into slots 4, at the four points or edges 9 (Fig. 4). As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, in dashand-dotted lines, a clothes line I0 inserted into the slots 4 will spread the four fingers 5, 6, 1 and 8 radially apart so that the edges 9 press against similar `parts the line III .and the clothes (not shown), thus gripping the clothes firmly and safely at four points but exerting less pressure and friction upon the clothes than is the case with ordinary clothespins made of soft wood. In order to facilitate the inserting of the clothes line I and clothes into the slots 4, I prefer to increase the width of the slots 4 toward their lower end, as shown in Fig. 1.

According to the modifications shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the recesses Il in the upper portion of the tubular body I are rounded at their ends, whereas the recesses 2 shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive are rectangular. Moreover, according to the modification of Fig. 6, the wide slots 4 are provided with ribs I2; and according to the modification of Fig. 7, the width of the slots 4 is decreased toward their lower ends by means of' comparatively large, semi-circular ribs I4 at both sides. The ribs I2 and I4 respectively will increase the gripping action of the ilngers 5, 6, 1 and 8 and will prevent a loosening of the clothes or clothes pin from the clothes line when a strong Wind is blowing.

'I'he four-point gripping action, previously referred to, will permit the making of clothes pins according to the present invention of smaller size and lighter weight than are ordinary clothespins and will make it easier to place them on a clothes line.

Further modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired, therefore, that my invention be limited only by the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described by invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. A clothespin comprising a tubular body of resilient material, the lower portion of which is provided with four axially directed slots in such a manner that said lower portion forms four gripping fingers extending from the upper portion of said tubular body, and said upper portion being provided with recesses which are at right angles to the axis of said tubular body, all substantially as set forth. v

2. A clothespin comprising a tubular body of resilient material, the lower portion of which is provided with four axially directed slots in such a manner that said lower portion forms four gripping fingers extending from the upper portion of said tubular body and being adapted to receive the clothes line and clothes and to grip the same at four points, said upper portion being provided with recesses forming a non-slip grip adapted to facilitate grasping, substantially as described.

3. A clothespin comprising a tubular body of resilient material, the lower portion of which is provided with two narrow longitudinal slots, which are radially extended through the wall of said tubular body along the cross-section center. line; and with two wide longitudinal slots which asedio-i are disposed at ninety degrees relative to said narrow slots; said four slots dividing said lower portion into four gripping fingers which extend from the upper portion ot said tubular body and which are adapted to receive the clothes line and clothes in said wide slots and to grip the same at four points; and said upper portion being provided with recesses which are at right angles to the axis of said tubular body, all substantially as described.

4. A clothespin comprising a tubular body of resilient material, the lower portion of which is provided with two narrow longitudinal slots, which are radially extended through the wall of said tubular body along the cross-section center line; and with two wide, longitudinal slots, the width of which is increased toward their lower end and which are angularly disposed in cross section relative to said narrow slots; said four slots dividing said lower portion into four gripping ngers which extend from the upper portion of said tubular body and which are adapted to receive the clothesline and clothes in said wide slots and to grip the same at four points; said upper portion being provided with recesses which are at right angles to the axis of said tubular body, all substantially as set forth.

5. A clothespin comprising a tubular body of resilient material, the lower portion of which is provided with two narrow longitudinal slots, which are radially extended through the wall of said tubular body along the cross-section center line; and with two wide longitudinal. ribbed slots, the width of which is increased toward their lower end and which are angularly disposed in cross section relative to said narrow slots; said slots dividing said lower portion into four gripping ngers which extend from the upper portionA of said tubular body and which are adapted to receive the clothes line and clothes in said wide slots and to grip the same at four points; said upper portion being provided with recesses which are at right angles to the axis of said tubular body, all substantially as set forth.

6. A clothespin comprising a tubular body of resilient material, the lower portion of which is provided with two narrow longitudinal slots, which are radially extended through the wall of said tubular body along the cross-section center line; and with two wide longitudinal slots, the

width of which is decreased toward their lower end by means of a large semi-circular rib at both sides and which are angularly disposed in cross section relative to said narrow slots; said four slots dividing said lower portion into four gripping iingers which extend from the upper portion of said tubular body and which are adapted to receive the clothesline and clothes in said wide slots and to grip the same at four points; and said upper portion being provided with recesses which are at right angles to the axis of said tubular body, all substantially as set forth.

FRANK SANTORA. 

